Switch and semaphore mechanism.



PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907..

J. J. GAR-D. SWITCH AND SEMAPHORE MECHANISM.

Ill

APPLICATION FILED 0018. 1906.

llm 1 lilmb mvem'on UNITED liigTFiNT OFFICE.

JOHN J. GARD. OF HARVEY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BUDA FOUNDRY &

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ILLINOIS.

ORGANIZED IN SWITCH AND SEIVIAPHORE MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed October 8, 1906. Serial No. 337.893.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. GARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at I'Iarvey, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch and Semaphore Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to switch and semaphore mechanism and particularly to the operating mechanism whereby the parts may be shifted from one position to another; and the invention has for its objects to provide a mechanism for this purpose of greater simplicity and less cost than has heretofore been done; to provide a mechanism for the angular transmission of power in which the usual bevel gearing is eliminated; to provide a transmission mechanism which shall be very durable and not liable to become inoperative because of wear; and to provide a transmission gear which shall be less liable to become incapacitated by accident than is the case with other mechanisms now in use for the same purpose. These and other objects are accomplished by m y improved construction one form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the assembled mechanism,

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail plan view of the mechanism as shownin Figure 1, with the top cap removed to more clearly show the operating means,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 111-111 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a detail of the operating arm, and

Figure 5 is a detail of the fork for the semaphore shaft.

Heretofore in switch and semaphore apparatus it has been common in cases where the operatim shaft was at an angle to the operated ihaf t or semaphore shaft, to provide for the transmission of power by means of bevel gears mounted upon the two shafts. These bevel gears are objectionable in this relation not only because of the accuracy necessary in their production and their consequent expense, but because of the fact that when worn the lost motion resulting therefrom gives such play that the semaphore lamp and signal are improperlv displayed and in some cases this lost motion becomes so great that the switch may be thrown without even moving the lamp and the scma ')horc. Furthermore in case of an accident to the support or casing of the semaphore the bevel gears are liable to become cramped and refuse to operate which result is liable to occur with only a very slight disarrangement of parts. My construction is designed to avoid all these disadvantages by doing away with the bevel gears and substituting transmission mechanism in which the lost motion due to wear is practically negligible, in "which the cost of the parts is very slight as comparml with that of gears, and in which the parts will operate even after a considerable disarrangement thereof.

R eferringfirst to Figure 1 in which the usual parts of the semaphore are shown in assembled position, 1 is the base, 2 is the upstanding casing in which the operating shaft is placed, 3 is the casing in which the operating mechanism to which the invention relates is housed, 4 is the removable cap therefor, 5 is the operating shaft, the end of which is extended and upon which the lamp is mounted, 6 is the semaphore mounted upon the shaft 7, and 8 is the counterweight mounted upon the opposite end of the semaphore shaft 7. Referring now to Figures 2 to 5 which illustratc the invention, it will be noted that the semaphore shaft 7 is screw threaded at each end for the reception of a semaphore at one end and a counterweight at the other and the intermediate portion of such shaft 7 is provided with a yoke 9 (Figure 2 i which yoke permits of the coaxial arrangement of the operating shaft 5 and the semaphore shaft 7 and also serves as a stop for the semaphore shaft when it is in extreme position by virtue of its engagement with the sides of the operating shaft 5. Also mounted intermediate the ends of the semaphore shaft 7 is the upstanding for i 1.4 which fork 14f constitutes a part of the means for turning the semaphore shaft. Mounted adjacent the upstanding fork 1.4 is the col lar 1 0 shown in detail in Figure 4, which collar 10 is slidably mounted upon the shaft 5 and secured in position by any desired means such as the pin 11, shown in F igure 2. The collar is also provided withaprojecting arm 12 which carries on its end the ball 13, which ball 13 is adapted to fit between the sides of the fork 14 and constitutes a means whereby the rotation of the operating shaft produces the rotation of the semaphore shaft 7. It will be seen that as the shaft 5 is rotated the ball 13 will slide across the inside face of the fork 14 thereby rotating the shaft 7 carrying such part, thereby moving the semaphore mounted upon the arm 7 to its desired position. It will be observed that this mechanism is exceedingly simple and can be installed at a very slight cost. Furthermore the lost motion because of wear is considerably less than in ordinary gearing and a considerable disarrangement of the cooperating parts can be permitted without such binding of the parts as to incapacitate the apparatus.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. The combination with an operating shaft and a semaphore shaft at substantially right angles thereto and adapted to carry a semaphore at one end and a counterweight at the other, one of which shafts has an offset portion whereby the two shafts pass each other without interference, of an arm on each member projecting at substantially right angles to such members and adapted to contact whereby the rotation of the operating shaft causes the rotation of the semaphore shaft.

2. In combination with an operating shaft and a semaphore shaft at substantially right angles thereto and adapted to carry a semaphore at one end and a counterweight at the other, one of which shafts has a yoke for the reception of the other shaft, of an arm on each member projecting at substantially right angles to such members and adapted to contact whereby the rotation of the operating shaft causes the rotation of the sema phore shaft.

I 3. In combination with an operating shaft and a semaphore shaft at substantially right angles thereto and adapted to carry a semaphore at one end and a counterweight at the 1 other, one of which shafts has a yoke for the reception of the other shaft, of a fork on one of the shafts at substantially right angles to such shaft, and an arm on the other shaft at l substantially right angles thereto adapted to fit such fork whereby the rotation of the operating shaft causes the rotation of the sema phore shaft.

4. In combination, with an operating shaft and a semaphore shaft at substantially right angles thereto and adapted to carry a semaphore at one end and a counterweight at the JOHN J. GARD.

Witnesses:

F. E. PEACE, JOHN L. WALKER.

other,,one of which shafts has a yoke for the 

